Metal fence-post.



R. E. TESREAU & L. P. SUNDMAN;

METAL FENCE POST.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. '30, 1912.

I 1,049,549. Patented Jan. 7,1913.

INVENTORJ:

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ROBERT .iTDVfAR-D TESREAU AND LABS FREDERICK SUNDMAN, OF DOE RUN, MISSOURI.

METAL FENCE-POST.

inl t-9,549.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7,1913.

Application filed March so, 1912., Serial No. 687,437.

To a il /LOW, it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT E. Tnsunao -and lanes F. SUNDMAN, citizens of the United States, residing at Doe Run, in the county of St. Francois and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Metal Fence-Post, of which the following is. a specification Our invention relates toimpr v m in fence posts, and has for its object to provide a post furnished with novel and eliective means for securing fence wires thereto.

Further our post is provided with means by which it can be easily and firmly placed in the ground without the necessity of digging a post-hole.

We also provide abracewhich will not only brace the post but willhold it down and resist any tendency of the post to turn.

. Other objects and advantages ofour invention will appear-in the course of the following description. I

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is'a front elevation of our improved fence post, showing the post positioned in the ground and with the fence wires attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the .upper portion or body of the post. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 Fig. 2 looking-in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. l-is a horizontalsectional View looking down on the line 4+4 Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view througha portion of the screw shank of the post.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of our improved post, 10 designates the body or that part of the post which extends above the surface of the ground, and to which the 4d fence wires are attached. The said body portion square in cross section, and is gradually tapered from its upper to its lower end, that is, to the point where it is intended to be sunk into the ground.

.. The shank portion of the post is rounded, as at 13, immediately below the lower end of the body portion 110, and is of. a size in cross section corresponding to about that of the lower part of'the square portion or body 10. As shown, the lower portion of the shank is provided with a double spiral screw. The threads 14 and 15 start at substantially diametrically-opposite points on the diameter of the round portion 13 of the shank, and, for their first complete turn about the shank extend out beyond the sides of the post thereby affording a grip'for the threads when the post is setv in the ground. Both threads have a common pitch with their. spirals running in the same direction, but owing to the fact that the threads start at opposite points, the threads run between each other to the end of .the shank, where,

they: terminate in oppositelydisposed grooved wings 14- and 15, respectively, which aredrawn to a point 16 to facilitate starting the post into the ground. The .oppositely-disposed grooved wings provide a duplex cutting edge for the point 16 of the post. Each thread or spiralis' cut downwardly or inwardly toward the shank so that the outer edge of the thread is relatively higher than the point of junct-ure of the thread with the shank and thus there are formed spiral grooves 14 and. 15", respectively, between the outeredge 'of the thread and the shank. This feature serves two purposes, it provides a sharp cutting edge for the threads and afiordsaholding groove in whichthe surrounding earth will pack.

The post, which is preferably made of metal, is cast in one piece and canibe easily screwed into the ground withasui'table tool,

.as itismade square 1n cross section.

The advantages of the double thread are many, for in screwing the post into anything'as unstable as'the' ground it is necessary in orderto obtain the best results to employ a long pitch, but by using a double thread, the disadvantages ofa long pitch are overcome to a great extent.

' In order to firmly brace the post in position whenever a brace is needed, we employ a right angular brace 17, which comprisesa square open post receiving body 18, which is slipped over the top of the post and pushed down until it rests on the ground where it will fit securely about the lower part of the post body 10 "owing to its taper. At adjoining sides ofthe'hody '18 are arms 19 and 20 which extend outwardly at right angles to each other. The arms each terminate in rounded portions 19 and 20, each provided with a perforation, through which are driven metal stakes 21 provided with suitable heads.

Longitudinally of the frontface of the body portion 10 is arranged a slot 22 which extends nearly the entire length of the body. The slot is provided throughout its length with a series of short grooves or each "groove 23 and secured to the opposite walls of the slot 22 is a short round rod or 'cross bar 24. The outer side of each rod 24, extends out substantially flush in a vertical line with the outer ends of the ribs 25, which constitute dividing walls formed between the grooves 23, and said rods are of such size with respect to the grooves in which they are positioned as to afford a clear channel or passage 26 between each rod "and its groove for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The wires 27 are secured to the body 10 of the post by means of suitable staples 28.

The selected wire 27 is drawn across the front face of the post in front of the rod 24 at the desired distance from the ground,

and then a staple 28 is straddled over the wire, with the free or pointed ends of the staple extending into the entrances to the same groove located at opposite sides of the rod. The staple is then driven into place. with the result that-the ends or prongs of the staple will strike'the curved rear wall of the .groove and be deflected in opposite directions around the rod and in frictional contact with the rod and the sides of the groove, until the body of the staple strikes the wire forcing the latterinto the slot and against the rod where it is securely clamped in position as illustrated in Fig. .3. The bending or kinking of the'wire into the slot in front of the rod 24 will prove effective in preventing any longitudinal movement of the wire, and in addition it serves to tighten the wire.

While we have shown and described our post as having wires attached thereto, it is readily apparentthat boards could be secured with equal facility, either with staples or by ordinary nails, as the latter would curve around the rods 24 in the same manner as the staples. Also, while we have only shown the fastening means on one side of the post similar fastening means could be provided on two or more sides with equal facility; as desired.

The entire post, including the fastening Copies of flail patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

means, is to be cast or other-wise formed of a single iece of metal.

" Instea" ,of theprongs of the-"staple 28 straddling the rod 24, theyfmiay straddle the rib or web 25 so that one prong will enter Y one groove andtheother prong. the groove below the same. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

What we claim is:-

1. A fence post provided along its with a vertically disposed slot, and a plurality of substantially semi-circular grooves arranged vertically and communicating with said slot, said grooves being spaced apart by ribs which form the dividing walls space on each side of said rod when the said element is placed in one position, or enter the grooves on each side of the rib 'when the said element is sition.

2. A fence'post provided with a series of contiguously spaced grooves arranged Vertically along one of its faces, said placed in'the other pogrooves being substantially semi-circular in cross section and spaced apart forming a curved narrow rib or divlding wall between each pair of grooves, and a fixed transverse rod arranged horizontally in each groove and spaced from the top, bottom and rear walls thereof, whereby the outer face of either the ribs or the rods will provide a bearing or seat for a fence element so that a driven staple may engage the fence ele mentand enter the spaces between the rods and the grooves.

In testimony, that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto aiiixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT EDWARD TESREAU. LARS FREDERICK SUNDMAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM Tasman, M. J. HARVEIL.

' Washington, D. G. 

